Smoothing iron



March 26, 1946. R. o. BOYD SMOOTHING IRON Filed April 27, 1945 flail: aflqyd IN VEN TOR.

k7 7" 0/? E KS Patented Mar. 26, 1946 SMOOTHING IRON Ruth Oliver Boyd, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Lydia B. Koch, New York, N. Y.

Application April 27, 1945, Serial No. 590,615

1 Claim.

This invention relates to smoothing irons such as 156d for pressing garments. It is designed primarily for use as a part of a kit to be carried by travelers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is small and compact, and is very durable as well as inexpensive.

A further object is to provide a smoothing iron whi h does not require the use of'the usual heating element but, on the contrary, utilizes as a healing means, an incandescent lamp of standard size which is replaceable readily.

Under present conditions it is practically imposslble to obtain ordinary heating elements and those smoothing irons utilizing heating coils or the like must be discarded when burned out. An object of the present invention is to provide a smoothing iron utilizing a standard incandescent lamp which, if burned out, can be replaced readily.

A still further object is to so construct the smoothing portion of the iron as to quickly absorb heat from the heating element and permit direct trammission of heating units to the article being ironed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruotion and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim,

it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of arts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Fimlre 1 is a central longitudinal section the article to be ironed. In the structure illustrate d, this base is formed adjacent to its back end with openings 2 through which heat waves are free to pass without interference. At other points in the top surface of the base there are form ed a number of recesses 3 extending close to the outer or bottom surface of the base so that only thin walls 4 close the bottoms of the recesses. The wall of each recess has fins 5 extending toward the center of the recess. The entire base is madeof metal having the property of quickly absorbing and conducting heat.

The base is provided with a marginal rim 6 and seated on this rim is a top member 1 which is hollow and is detachably secured to the rim by screws 8 or the like. A handle 9 can be detachably fastened to the top member I by means of a screw ID.

A central recess H is formed in the back portion of the rim 6 and a corresponding recess I2 is provided in the top member 1 at the back thereof, these two recesses being adapted to register so as to completely embrace a socket member I3 constituting a receptacle for an incandescent lamp l4. A spring latch I5 is secured on the top 1 and, when the socket member I3 is seated in the recesses H and I2, this latch will snap back of the socket member, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby holding said socket member firmly in the recesses so that the lamp M will be supported within the iron but out of contact therewith. Wires leading to the socket member l3 have been indicated at I8.

It is preferred to use an incandescent lamp of a type which can be purchased in the open market, the same being elongated and substantially cylindrical so as to extend approximately the full length of the recessed portion of the base I.

When the iron is not in use the handle is disconnected therefrom and the same can be compactly stored. To use the iron it is merely necessary to attach the handle and plug the wires l6 into a service outlet. The heat generated by the energized lampwill radiate within the iron and a large percentage thereof will be absorbed by the base I. This absorption will be accelerated because of the recesses 3 and the fins 5 projecting thereinto. Some of the heat rays will escape directly through the openings 2. Thus articles can be easily ironed with this device, heat being transmitted to them from the smoothing surface of the iron and also through the openings in the base. Should the lamp burn out a new one could be substituted therefor readily.

It has been found in practice that a smoothing iron such as herein described is very efficient in ironing articles of light weight although it has been found useful also for ironing trousers and other heavy garments.

What is claimed is:

A smoothing iron including an apertured base of heat conducting material having a smooth bottom surface and a plurality of recesses in its top surface, fins extending toward each other from the wall of each recess, a top member connected to the base, a lamp socket removably supported between the base and top member at one end thereof, a heat-generating lamp carried by the socket member and supported thereby out of contact with the base and top member, a latch engaging the socket member to hold it and the lamp detachably within the iron, and a handle on the top member.

RUTH OLIVER BOYD. 

